Oleksandr Gvozdyk says he’s not going to run away from David Benavidez on Saturday night when the two battle for the WBC interim light heavyweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Benavidez’s fans believe the victory for him is virtually a lock against the 37-year-old former WBC 175-lb champion Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs), and they’re already looking forward to the ‘Mexican Monster’ facing the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol fight next for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.
Gvozdyk is ready to defeat Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), who has never fought at 168 and has been well-matched by his promoters against lesser opposition to get him to this point.
Gvozdyk: “I’m Not Going to Run Away”
“You can expect a great fight, a lot of punches, a lot of skills, and we’re going to steal the show,” said Oleksandr Gvozdyk to ABN Sports Media about his fight against David Benavidez stealing the show this Saturday night on PBC on Prime Video PPV.
“He’s very smart, throws multi-punch combinations, and pressure,” Gvozdyk said on what to watch out for from Benavidez. “You have to watch out for his punches because they’re really fast.
“I’m not going to run away. You’re not going to be happy if I run away. So you’re going to have to watch me in the ring against your idol,” said Gvozdyk about his message to Benavidez’s fans, who are doubting him.
Given that this is the first time that Benavidez is fighting someone close to the same size as him and is a much more talented fighter than anyone he’s faced, he might lose this fight.
That’ll be a bitter pill for Benavidez’s fans, and for the media, who failed to scrutinize the type of opposition he’s been facing.
Knowledgeable fans have perceived Benavidez as a weight bully, noting that he’s a light heavyweight/cruiserweight who has chosen to melt down to 168 to dominate smaller opposition.
Gvozdyk’s Eyes on the Undisputed Title
“I become interim world champion,” said Gvozdyk about what he will gain from beating Benavidez on Saturday. “On the other side, there’s Bivol and Beterbiev. They’re going to determine the undisputed world champion. I become mandatory [to them].
“If Bivol beats him, I’m not interested in fitting him because it’s not about some personal stuff,” said Gvozdyk when asked if he would want to fight a rematch with Artur Beterbiev to avenge his loss from 2019. “I just want to be champion, and the guy that has all the belts will be my next target,” said Gvozdyk.
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